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Thief escaped from Cowley car plant in new Mini

First published
in News
by Joe Nimmo, Senior reporter. Call me on (01865) 425373

A DRUG addict broke into the Mini plant and then wrote off a brand new vehicle by smashing it into a tree.

And, despite being arrested by police, Wesley Gilbert went back to the Cowley plant and tried to steal another Mini, a judge was told at Oxford Crown Court.

On Monday Recorder Peter Crabtree gave Gilbert a 12-month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay a £100 fine.

The 32-year-old has admitted aggravated vehicle taking, taking without consent and two thefts.

In his initial escapade on November 10, Gilbert, of Pegasus Road in Blackbird Leys, drove a Mini through an exit barrier to escape. On the second occasion, on November 17, he couldn’t get out of the car park.

Francis O’Toole, prosecuting, said: “Mr Gilbert climbed the fence at the BMW factory, into a secure compound containing a large number of vehicles.

“He managed to get into a red BMW Mini – all of the vehicles are left insecure, with their keys in the ignition and half a tank of petrol.

“Mr Gilbert was able to start the car and managed to drive it, smashing through the exit barrier and then drove it around Oxfordshire.”

He said the father-of-one’s journey came to an end near Princes Risborough, in Buckinghamshire, at 11.58pm when he crashed the car into a tree.

Gilbert came round covered in blood from a head injury he had received and was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury.

After he was arrested he told officers he had gone to the plant to steal a bike, but was challenged and so climbed over the fence.

Once inside the compound he said he used the car to escape.

Gilbert also admitted stealing a handbag from an Oxford nightclub in Hythe Bridge Street on December 29, a blue shopping bag containing around £100 of goods from the post office in St Aldate’s on September 27.

At least this Blackbird Leys thief only broke somebody's private property.Unlike the Blackbird Leys thief who murdered Ross Doyle over 12 years ago.Does anyone on the estate know if he still lives in the 'hood?

At least this Blackbird Leys thief only broke somebody's private property.Unlike the Blackbird Leys thief who murdered Ross Doyle over 12 years ago.Does anyone on the estate know if he still lives in the 'hood?MrSooty

MrSooty wrote:
At least this Blackbird Leys thief only broke somebody's private property.Unlike the Blackbird Leys thief who murdered Ross Doyle over 12 years ago.Does anyone on the estate know if he still lives in the 'hood?

do you know who it was then ?

[quote][p][bold]MrSooty[/bold] wrote:
At least this Blackbird Leys thief only broke somebody's private property.Unlike the Blackbird Leys thief who murdered Ross Doyle over 12 years ago.Does anyone on the estate know if he still lives in the 'hood?[/p][/quote]do you know who it was then ?MadMan-JaYmZ

BMW deserve to have their cars stolen. Now everyone knows that they leave brand new Minis with the keys in and half a tank of petrol. If my car was taken because I had left the keys in, my insurance company wouldn't pay out.

BMW deserve to have their cars stolen. Now everyone knows that they leave brand new Minis with the keys in and half a tank of petrol. If my car was taken because I had left the keys in, my insurance company wouldn't pay out.benjamin

Anyone like me who knows Wes knows he couldn’t care less about changing and will keep reoffending until he is caught again. Prison might not be the best place for a drug addict, but at least when someone is locked up the rest of the people who aren’t constantly offending can relax a little bit more. How can judges keep falling for this nonsense?

Lesson to learn here people is IF you ever find yourself in a position where you feel you have nowhere left to turn but to commit a crime, go and get a drug habit first.

Brilliant, hilarious in fact. Here is my favourite part:
Daniel Wright, defending, said: “He desperately wants to change.”
Anyone like me who knows Wes knows he couldn’t care less about changing and will keep reoffending until he is caught again. Prison might not be the best place for a drug addict, but at least when someone is locked up the rest of the people who aren’t constantly offending can relax a little bit more. How can judges keep falling for this nonsense?
Lesson to learn here people is IF you ever find yourself in a position where you feel you have nowhere left to turn but to commit a crime, go and get a drug habit first.TrueGritOX

Poor return for BMW for their sustained belief in their Oxford factory and work force and during a period of global downturn they go one step further and invest another £200M. Some trash steals two of their cars causes thousands of pounds worth of damage and gets a paltry fine. So much for British law and order, when a numpty can get away without so much as a proper wrist slap by the courts, the same courts should be ashamed. You get more for shop lifting a few bits out of Poundland.

Poor return for BMW for their sustained belief in their Oxford factory and work force and during a period of global downturn they go one step further and invest another £200M. Some trash steals two of their cars causes thousands of pounds worth of damage and gets a paltry fine. So much for British law and order, when a numpty can get away without so much as a proper wrist slap by the courts, the same courts should be ashamed. You get more for shop lifting a few bits out of Poundland.the wizard

MrSooty wrote:
At least this Blackbird Leys thief only broke somebody's private property.Unlike the Blackbird Leys thief who murdered Ross Doyle over 12 years ago.Does anyone on the estate know if he still lives in the 'hood?

Unfortunately lots of people know who killed young Ross, but the police would not guarantee the safety of the one who stood up in court and relocate them. It is heartbreaking for all of us that are friends, but that is the way that the law is. A public investigation is needed into the police role in this, as they could have secured a conviction. For all of the "great community spirit on The Leys" this has been the biggest open secret for 12 years, as we all know. He who has the biggest balls, stand up and be counted.

[quote][p][bold]MrSooty[/bold] wrote:
At least this Blackbird Leys thief only broke somebody's private property.Unlike the Blackbird Leys thief who murdered Ross Doyle over 12 years ago.Does anyone on the estate know if he still lives in the 'hood?[/p][/quote]Unfortunately lots of people know who killed young Ross, but the police would not guarantee the safety of the one who stood up in court and relocate them. It is heartbreaking for all of us that are friends, but that is the way that the law is. A public investigation is needed into the police role in this, as they could have secured a conviction. For all of the "great community spirit on The Leys" this has been the biggest open secret for 12 years, as we all know. He who has the biggest balls, stand up and be counted.Grunden Skip